Advertisers have appeared unwilling to spend big on digital music and I, like a lot of people, was skeptical about Pandora ever reaching the mark, even after its dauntless founder, Tim Westergren, predicted last spring the company would do it. (Come on, how many company executives say that?)

Pandora spent a decade struggling with a myriad of obstacles, but apparently Pandora and Westergren vaulted them all.

Besides the glut of competition that streamed into the sector in the latter half of the past decade and the advertiser apathy I already mentioned, Pandora also had to help lead an extended fight to reduce royalty rates paid by Web radio stations.

About the author

Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. Based in New York, Sandoval is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at @sandoCNET.
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